In a little corner of Istria, among rosemary, limestone, and cypress trees, Paradise Cove stays hidden like a secret you have to earn. No beach promenade, no easy access – just a steep forest path, and the sounds of the Adriatic Sea rehearsing its meditative jingle.
In the late afternoon’s brief hour, when the sun begins its slow descent behind the pointy pines, Samantha Kandinsky steps this side of the frame with the calm of someone who usually stands behind the lens. Croatian-born in old Albona (Labin) and a photographer by profession, she switches sides and lets Aleš Bravničar capture her. It always helps when you know exactly what matters to create a beautiful image – and the two of them fully leaned into their creativity.
There is no set design, only the cove’s raw minimalism: pale rock, salt wind, bending trees, and Mediterranean vibes. Light wraps around Samantha like fabric –gold on her blonde hair, sea reflections in her eyes.












Photography by @bravnicar
Model @kandinsky___
Shot on Cooke @cookeoptics







